The cathode ray tube surgeon

[ah_u3]

Hi everyone, I'd tell you one thing, medical schools suck, I been having exams for over 3 months now and I barely have time to breathe so please bare with me and my telegraphic speech !

Anyways, a shot for an environmental portrait trail, any feedback would be much appreciated, the lighting, the composition, background, and whether it's overdone in PP ?? does it seem like too much editing? thanks guys, keep shooting


The cathode ray tube surgeon by Ahmed Yousry

ouh and please look it up on my stream on 500px.com for the caption in the description, I'm desperate for feedback on the storyline too

[travelpat]

For my personal taste there is a bit too much vignette in there.

As for composition, maybe show less of the ... thing at the right, doesn't add that much to the picture.

[nmajmani]

I agree. A tighter crop would help this tremendously.

[Rentham]

I disagree with the previous two responses. A tighter crop would defeat the purpose of the environmental portrait. The thing he is repairing gives the image its context. I quite like this image, particularly the shadows and his expression. Nice job.

[PhilD41]

I am with Rentham on this one. If you did try a tighter crop, I would't move it in on the right much more than the top circuit board at the base of the CRT. That would put the hands working at about the 2/3 location from left to right, but won't remove too much of his arm at the bottom left of the image. The Vignetting is a little for me as well, but I know what you were going for and it does work with this image. Overall the image is a little dark, again, I believe that is the look you were going for. I might be tempted to lighten up the mid tones a little without blowing out the highlights on his hands and face. There are enough shadows that I don't think you would have to worry about losing your contrast.

Anyway... I really like it. I have done some repair work on CRTs myself. I don't think a picture of me working would have turned out near as nice. :-) Great work!!!

[The LoKW]

Originally Posted by Rentham

I disagree with the previous two responses. A tighter crop would defeat the purpose of the environmental portrait. The thing he is repairing gives the image its context. I quite like this image, particularly the shadows and his expression. Nice job.

I agree with Rentham on this one. Find this image really works for me personally. TFS.

[jimmyl]

I agree with Rentham in this. I would love to see this photo without a vingette. Just curious. :-)

[Mso]

I like it a lot. The colour of his skin against all the greys... lovely... So no critique from me ..

[mrteacherdude]

Just thought I'd add my agreement with Rentham since the cathode ray tube is the "thing" on the right. I personally don't find the vignette disagreeable as it helps keep the stuff on the top shelf behind from becoming a distraction. I like it

These guys are probably getting pretty rare aren't they?

[ah_u3]

Oh yes really rare, I came across one by chance while I was out to photograph even a rarer thing, a SHOE repair shop so yes, about the vignette, the aim is to keep the busy background from distracting the hands, should have flagged the neon lamp on the top right just outside the frame??? to prevent too much spell on the background, so I wouldn't need too much vignette in PP ?? would that help? I'll try work on lighting the midtones and removing the vignette and then upload it but I think you guys are gonna like this one better, we'll see, oh one last question, the color toning?? doesn't seem to much blue does it?? I cranked up the blue curve in the shadows , kept it neutral while raised the other too curves in the highlights to create contrast for the face against the environment, did it work or did it seem like too much manipulation??